This technical assistance guide is meant to assist law enforcement agencies in handling “courtesy reports,” which are taken by one law enforcement agency on behalf of another. It was designed to provide concrete assistance and address frequently asked questions, for law enforcement agencies faced with a report of sexual assault from a jurisdiction affected by a nature disaster.

This report presents findings on the intersections between food access, water, sanitation, housing and the incidence of sexual violence in camps for displaced persons outside of Port-au-Prince, Haiti. It also provides recommendations for action to improve access to basic needs and prevent sexual violence.

This report from Amnesty International notes that sexual violence was widespread in Haiti before January 2010 has been exacerbated by the conditions since the earthquake. The limited assistance the authorities previously provided has been undermined by the destruction of police stations and court houses. This has made it more difficult to report sexual violence. Over 50 survivors of sexual violence shared their experiences for the study which highlights how the lack of security and policing in and around the camps is a major factor for the increase in attacks.

This Special Collection includes selected materials and resources -- many gender-informed -- that can be used by domestic and sexual violence organizations to increase their preparedness for and response to major disasters and emergencies.

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This site is supported by Grant/ Cooperative Agreement No. 1UF2CE002359-02 from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.